Audi e-tron S 2022 Review

The new-car landscape is fast changing with the advent of electrification, but it appears the old-fashioned upsell is not.

The new 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback duo arrives in Australia this week as a sportier, more powerful and better equipped version of the e-tron and e-tron Sportback on sale locally since 2020.

It mirrors a marketing strategy used by car-makers for the ages: give a little more, ask for a little more. And it prompts the question: is the S worthy of the additional outlay? Let’s find out…

The 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback sit at the top of the local Audi electric vehicle range, priced from $168,400 and $175,400 plus on-road costs respectively.

That’s at least until a low-riding alternative lobs in the form of the Audi e-tron GT from September, priced at a cool $181,700 plus ORCs.

The two new S-branded e-tron SUV models pack a 370kW/973Nm all-electric punch courtesy of a revised drivetrain system which we’ll get into in the next section.

In comparison, the current range-topping dual-motor Audi e-tron 55 (300kW/664Nm) is priced from $148,900 plus ORCs, while the entry-level e-tron 50 (230kW/540Nm) kicks off at $139,900 plus ORCs. The Sportback version of each adds $11,000.

It makes for sobering reading considering entry-level models of the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC start below $125,000, although the just-launched BMW iX – which is a closer match to the e-tron in terms of size – starts closer at $135,900 plus ORCs.

In any case, Audi argues its equipment levels and aftersales provisions are compelling.

In the vein of other Audi ‘S’ models, the new pairing offers pumped-up styling cues, 23mm-wider wheel-arches, unique 21-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, aluminium-finish wing mirrors, ‘S’ grille badge and orange ‘S’-branded brake callipers.

The sporty theme likewise transcends the cabin thanks to ‘valcona’ leather upholstery for the front sports seats, a smattering of ‘S’ logos, flat-bottomed steering wheel, S-specific digital cockpit, and infotainment displays with performance-related readouts.

Despite its pricing premium, the S boasts little in the way of additional equipment over the existing e-tron. That said, the standard fare is quite extensive, extending to keyless entry and start, electric tailgate, Matrix LED headlights, metallic paint, privacy glass, four-zone climate control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone charger and a head-up display.

As for infotainment, the S combines two haptic screens for infotainment and vehicle functions respectively, Audi connect plus, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 705W Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.

A five-star safety rating is applied courtesy of a 2019 ANCAP test .

Standard safety items include a 360-degree camera and parking sensors, Audi drive assist with stop-and-go, distance indicator and traffic jam assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection (but no junction assist), collision avoidance assist and turn assist.

The e-tron S also wins some key points where ownership and aftersales is concerned. Each variant is offered with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, plus a six-year Chargefox subscription, six years’ scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.

The body is covered by a 12-year corrosion warranty while the battery is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty.

Additionally, new e-tron purchases include installation of 7.2kW/32A home recharging system supplied by JET Charge. More on charging times below.

The biggest differentiator between the new 2022 Audi e-tron S and its e-tron donor is in fact underneath the skin.

The mammoth outputs of the S versions come courtesy of a new triple-motor powertrain – two motors on the rear axle and a carryover one on the front – which draws its power from a 95kWh battery pack.

All told, total outputs here are listed at 370kW and 808Nm. The caveat is that these numbers are only accessed in boost mode using the most Dynamic driving setting. The more accurate peak electrical output figures are 320kW and 808Nm.

Both e-tron S models can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.5sec (5.1sec for non-Boost), while top speed is listed at 210km/h.

For the record, that acceleration time is 5.7sec for the most powerful e-tron 55 quattro donor.

In terms of range, the e-tron S can travel up to 413km before needing to recharge, according to local ADR (81/02) testing that’s based on the generous NEDC standard. This compares to 438km for the e-tron 55, as listed on the Australian government’s Green Vehicle Guide. The real world translation is a bit different…

When the time comes to recharge the e-tron S, Audi says doing so with a 150kW DC fast-charger will add 80 per cent of charge in half an hour and 100 per cent in 45 minutes – drawing up to 120kW at a time.

We found this claim to be accurate when using an ultra-rapid fast-charger on test.

Charging at home with the 11kW wallbox utilising three-phase power, meanwhile, will take 8.5 hours for an 80 per cent charge from empty. Using the aforementioned JET Charge home outlet on a 7.2kW/32A single-phase connection takes 13 hours.

As for a garden-variety household powerpoint? You’re looking at 40 hours to 80 per cent from empty.

Elsewhere, the e-tron S models have been fitted with active torque vectoring which effectively gifts each rear motor its own wheel to drive.

The torque vectoring isn’t alone in its support of dynamic handling; progressive steering and S-tuned adaptive air suspension are also included as standard, controlled and altered via the seven different drive modes on offer.

Thanks to the standard air suspension, the ride height can be altered by up to 76mm depending on the driving situation at hand.

Our first drive of the new 2022 Audi e-tron S encompassed a circa-300km loop from Canberra to Tumut via Cooma and Adaminaby – a nice cross-section of roads handily accessed via ultra-rapid fast-chargers along the way.

The e-tron S subtly make its sporty pretensions known upon settling into the cabin.

The S sports seats provide a bit more support and bolstering compared with the donor e-tron, while minor dashboard inserts and S badging go some way in differentiating the more expensive sibling.

The technology, cabin appointments and build quality is both user-friendly and polished. Dual screens within the centre fascia offer a clean, minimal facade while remaining easy to use on the go, and the excellent virtual cockpit display is as good as any digital instrument cluster on the market.

Similarly, rear seat space is sound for a couple of adult passengers or little ones (with ISOFIX attachment points) and the 606-litre boot area is flat and big enough for a set of golf clubs or a couple of full-size suitcases – underpinned by a storage space underneath but no spare tyre.

Depressing the starter button, the Audi e-tron S invokes a faint whirr en route to excellent performance and some inherent (and polished) Audi-isms in its day-to-day driving mannerisms.

The key controls are convincingly modulated, with adequate steering feel and a tangible brake pedal action. Likewise, there are different regenerative braking options on offer that take advantage of the EV’s seamless on-road passage, or maximise its ability to recharge on the move.

The steering rack initially feels a tad heavier than the garden-variety e-tron though lacks the intimate feeling keener drivers may expect, while the body also exudes a stiffer character. You can expect an occasional thud and, more rarely, a crash over an unexpected pothole, but that’s about it.

In dynamic terms, the Audi e-tron S demonstrably justifies its lofty pricing against more affordable EVs in the way it simply rides and handles.

Having driven a slew of sub-$100,000 electric vehicles in recent weeks, the Audi feels supremely suspended and controlled with its body movements, tackling rough country roads and highways with aplomb.

In the face of a 2600kg kerb weight, this is no mean feat. But the Audi e-tron S pulls it off convincingly.

Getting up to those speeds is a cinch, too. Acceleration is linear and accessible at all speeds, making overtaking manoeuvres a stress-free experience and highway passage truly effortless.

That brings us to the crux of the matter. Does the S truly raise the performance bar against its e-tron 55 sibling?

If we use the most simple gauge in Audi’s line-up – stepping up from garden-variety A3 to peppy and feisty S3 – it would seem not.

Sure, in headier corners the e-tron S hunkers down and its two rear-mounted electric motors and carryover front motor conspire to apportion power to individual wheels with remarkable precision.

On flat alpine bends, the motivation is to push as hard as you please, with excellent grip levels and a swift underlying stability control suite providing an ultimate safety net. Were it not for vigilant highway patrol cars everywhere, we might have thought about it…

And yet, for 99 per cent of e-tron drivers, the expectation here is that the performance gains will be so marginal that they’d need to drive the S back-to-back with the donor to notice it. Even then, the difference won’t be night and day.

If the e-tron S boasted additional range over the 55, it would potentially mount a stronger case. As it stood, our test vehicle displayed a 345km range at full charge, and after a 179km journey, had a 164km range remaining – averaging 26.1kWh in the process.

The upshot is it’s a long way from the 413km claim.

We lauded the Audi e-tron at its Australian launch in October 2020, and it’s fair to say the 2022 Audi e-tron S extends the legacy – though more by virtue of its polished cabin and dynamics than outright sportiness.

A longer range and more attainable purchase price would improve the dealership pitch in this vein. But, no doubt, Audi has much more to come.

How much does the 2022 Audi e-tron S cost?
Price: $168,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Three asynchronous electric motors
Output: 320kW/808Nm (370kW/973Nm in Boost mode)
Transmission: Two-stage planetary gearbox with single gear
Battery: 95kWh lithium-ion
Range: 413km (ADR)
Energy consumption: 26.4kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)